Sen. Thom Tillis

Maddy summarySJRES 50 is a joint resolution seeking to block a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule on cybersecurity risk management and incident disclosure. The rule, published in August 2023, would have required public companies to establish specific cybersecurity practices and disclose incidents to investors. This resolution uses a congressional disapproval process under federal law to prevent the rule from taking effect. If passed, it would halt the SEC's requirements, meaning companies would not face new cybersecurity reporting obligations.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 49 seeks congressional disapproval of a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule that would have established a new standard for determining when two or more companies are considered "joint employers" under labor law. The rule, published in October 2023, would have affected businesses with complex employment structures, such as franchisors and contractors, by altering how joint employer liability is assessed for wage, hour, and union representation matters. If passed, the resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preserving the previous standard for joint employer determinations. The bill was introduced by Senators Cassidy, Manchin, Braun, McConnell, Marshall, Cramer, Capito, and Paul and referred to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

Maddy summarySRES 408 is a non-binding Senate resolution condemning Hamas for its October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel, which killed over 1,400 Israelis and abducted nearly 200 hostages. The resolution demands Hamas immediately release all hostages, provide medical care, and cease using them as human shields, while calling on the U.S. to lead global efforts for their safe return. It specifically references Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities, the Nova music festival, and the execution of civilians, citing international law violations. As a symbolic resolution (not a law), it does not impose legal requirements or directly affect any individuals or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Congress to award a gold medal to the Hmong people in recognition of their service during the Vietnam War. It directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal and transfer it to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research. The medal honors the Hmong's military contributions, including fighting communist forces, gathering intelligence, and suffering high casualties. The bill specifically affects the Hmong community in the U.S. (over 327,000 people), acknowledging their historical role and displacement after the war.

Maddy summaryThe VA Billing Accountability Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to notify veterans of required copayments within 180 days for VA facility care and 18 months for non-VA care. If the VA fails to send this notification on time, it cannot collect the payment without providing veterans with options to apply for a waiver or set up a payment plan. The bill also allows the VA to waive copayments if a VA error caused the late notification beyond these deadlines (180 days for VA care, 18 months for non-VA care). Additionally, the VA must review and improve its billing procedures within 180 days of the law's enactment. This directly affects veterans receiving VA-covered care who might otherwise face unexpected billing delays.

Maddy summaryThe PRINTS Act requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to collect fingerprints from noncitizen children under 14 if they suspect trafficking during entry into the United States. It criminalizes using a minor (not a relative or guardian) to gain entry, punishable by fines or up to 10 years in prison. The bill also mandates sharing fingerprints of unaccompanied children with Health and Human Services and requires monthly public reporting on child trafficking apprehensions. These provisions aim to improve trafficking identification and enforcement through standardized data collection and criminal penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes funding for the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act program, extending the funding period from fiscal years 2019-2024 to 2024-2029. It directly affects law enforcement agencies and crime laboratories that process forensic DNA evidence to reduce backlogs. The key provision updates the timeframe for federal grants that help these agencies conduct DNA testing on unsolved cases. This ensures continued support for analyzing biological evidence in criminal investigations without creating new requirements.

This resolution supports the designation of October 23, 2023, as Beirut Veterans Remembrance Day to honor members of the Armed Forces who were killed or injured by the terrorist attack on the Marine Corps headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, on October 23, 1983.

Maddy summaryThe Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act creates 40,000 new employment-based immigrant visas for healthcare workers by recapturing unused visas from fiscal years 1992-2021, with 25,000 reserved for professional nurses and 15,000 for physicians. These visas are exempt from country caps and issued based on priority date, but must be applied for within three years of the bill’s enactment and only for applicants not already eligible under existing visa allocations. The bill also requires employers to attest that hiring foreign workers won’t displace U.S. workers and mandates expedited processing for these applications without additional fees. This policy directly affects nurses and physicians seeking to immigrate for healthcare roles in the U.S., along with their eligible family members.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. federal agencies from recognizing the Taliban-controlled government of Afghanistan (referred to as the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan") as legitimate. It requires the Secretary of State to officially designate Afghanistan as a "State Sponsor of Terrorism" and the Taliban as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization." The law blocks federal funding from being used to prepare or implement any policy that could imply diplomatic recognition of the Taliban regime. These provisions directly affect U.S. agencies like State, USAID, and Defense, and formally define the Taliban and Afghanistan as terrorist entities under U.S. law.